Extractions

While ideally we want to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime, sometimes it does become necessary to extract one or more teeth. We know that this is a procedure that often makes patients nervous, and we will do everything we can to make this process fast, easy, and as pain-free as possible.

Dr. Chalasani and her team are gentle, compassionate, and highly skilled. These qualities allow us to help patients be at ease and comfortable throughout the entire procedure. If you need anything from us to help you relax, simply ask, and we’ll do what we can to accommodate your request.

Why Do I Need an Extraction?

Extractions may be done for a variety of reasons. Some of the common reasons we extract teeth at Family Dentistry of Royal Oak include:

A tooth is severely damaged or decayed to the point where it can’t be saved.

A root canal has failed, or an infection is spreading.

An erupted wisdom tooth is causing pain, crowding, or problems with your other teeth.

Significant crowding is present, and orthodontic work requires the removal of one or more teeth.

A baby tooth is taking too long to come out and is creating a problem with the permanent teeth.

If we believe that an extraction is appropriate in your case, we’ll sit down and discuss the situation with you one-on-one. We’ll show you the x-rays and the images, explain the problem, and talk about what we want to accomplish with the extraction. We’ll also discuss what will happen if the extraction is not performed. We believe in educating and informing our patients about their dental health so they can make empowered decisions about their own care.

How Are Extractions Performed?

When you arrive for your extraction, we’ll bring you back and make sure you are completely comfortable. We’ll thoroughly numb the area and make sure you can’t feel a thing before we start the procedure.

To remove your tooth, we’ll begin by lifting the tooth using an instrument called an elevator. This instrument allows us to work quickly – in fact, your extraction will probably be complete before you even realize it! Once your tooth has been lifted, we’ll use forceps to gently remove it.

At Family Dentistry of Royal Oak, we perform uncomplicated extractions including extracting erupted wisdom teeth. If your extraction looks like it will be more complicated (for example, if the tooth is impacted), we’ll refer you to an oral surgeon we know and trust to perform the procedure.

Recovering from Extractions

Simple extractions have a fairly short recovery time. For about 24 to 48 hours following the extraction, plan to only eat soft foods that don’t require chewing, such as yogurt, pudding, soups (allow them to cool to room temperature before serving), smoothies, and ice cream. Don’t drink through a straw because the sucking action can cause your clot to become dislodged and increase your risk for bleeding and other complications.

We’ll provide you with a complete list of after-care instructions to help you heal as quickly as possible.

If you are concerned about the condition of your tooth or if you need an extraction, call our office for an examination. We think you’ll appreciate Dr. Chalasani’s skill, expertise, and gentle touch.

Patient Testimonial:Sam had nothing but great things to say

I usually never write reviews but I had an outstanding experience at this facility recently that I wanted to share with everyone. My 11 year-old needed two of her teeth ... Read More